How to Write a Motivation Letter for Scholarship

Winning Motivation Letter for Scholarship Format	Format
	Your Street Address City, State, Zip CodeDate of Letter
Use complete title and address.	Contact Name Contact Title Company Name Street Address City, State, Zip Code
Address to a particular person if possible and remember to use a colon	Dear _________: Begin your letter by stating why you’re writing. Mention the job title or type of work you’re interested in. If relevant, share how you found out about the person or organization.
Make the addressee want to read your resume. Be brief, but specific.	Middle paragraph(s): Share why you’re interested in the employer and the type of work. Use a couple of key examples from your school or work experience to highlight relevant skills, but avoid repeating your entire resume. Confidently emphasize skills that match the job, keeping in mind that your letter reflects your writing abilities.
Ask for a meeting and remember to follow up.	Closing paragraph: Express once again your interest in the position and your excitement to contribute your skills to the organization. Thank the reader for considering your application and express your anticipation of discussing the position further in the future.
Always sign letters	Sincerely, Your name typed

Many students want to apply for several scholarships and win them too, but become skeptical knowing they need to write a motivational letter that will help them stand out. That’s why we have provided you with a simple template above to help you write a winning Motivation Letter for a Scholarship. The template will help you adapt to several types of motivational letters for scholarship. We encourage you to read this article to the end to learn how to write a good scholarship motivational letter yourself.

How-to-Write-a-Motivation-Letter-for-Scholarship-Examples — Image Source: Scholarafrika

Table of Contents

For A Start Use the Format Above to Write Your Motivation Letter for a Scholarship

A motivation letter for a scholarship is an opportunity to weave a description that will grab the attention of the scholarship committee and prove to them that you’re a good fit for the scholarship program you covet. Hence, it’s a critical part of a scholarship application. Therefore, if a motivation letter is among the requirements for the scholarship you’re applying for, you need to take it very seriously because it can determine your chances of receiving the award.

Furthermore, a motivation letter is not just about showcasing academic excellence. It’s about painting a vivid portrait of your character, your determination, and the unique perspective you’ll bring to the academic table. Moreover, scholarship evaluation committees often use motivation letters to narrow down their pool of applicants. Hence, knowing how to craft a motivation letter for a scholarship will you stand out from a large pool of applicants.

Whether you’re an undergraduate student or a postgraduate student who wants to write a motivation letter for a scholarship program, you’ve come to the right place. In this piece, you learn about everything you need to know to write an appealing scholarship motivation letter. Thus, ensure you read every line so you don’t miss any vital information.

You can also check out the Fully Funded Scholarships for International Students

What Is a Motivation Letter?

A motivation letter is an essay that indicates your interest in an academic program or scholarship. This letter is critical to receiving a scholarship award since it allows you to make a positive impression on the minds of your readers. Typically, a motivation letter introduces you, your background and academic history, your achievements, and your aspirations to the selection committee.

In other words, the motivation letter will persuade the scholarship selection committee that you are an ideal candidate. Hence, it highlights your relevant experience, strengths, and future work to demonstrate to the reader why you are a deserving candidate for the scholarship. This will be your opportunity to describe your goals, clarify what you want to do, and demonstrate your unique potential.

Moreover, the letter is usually short, captivating, and concise. As a result, it ranges from 500 to 8000 words. Likewise, it is organized into three sections: the introduction, the body of the letter, and the conclusion. Read on to learn more about how you can craft an appealing motivation letter for a scholarship.

Why Do You Need a Motivation Letter for Scholarship?

Typically, a motivational letter allows you to highlight your strengths and accomplishments in ways that a resume cannot. Hence, it’s an opportunity to demonstrate your unique characteristics and why you’re a good fit for a scholarship program. Below are more reasons why you need to craft a motivation letter for a scholarship.

It allows you to clearly articulate your intentions, goals, and aspirations, helping others understand your motivations.
It is an opportunity to highlight your qualifications, skills, and experiences, demonstrating why you are a suitable candidate for a scholarship program.
It is a chance to connect with the scholarship committee on a personal level, sharing your personality and unique qualities beyond what appears on your resume or application form.
It sets you apart from other candidates, showcasing your individuality and passion for the opportunity.
It’s an opportunity to showcase your written communication skills, which are valuable in many professional and academic settings.
It leaves a positive impression on the reader, showing that you’ve put thought and effort into your application.

You can also check out the Easiest Scholarships To Get For International Students

What Should You Include in Your Motivation Letter?

Although each letter is unique, however, all scholarship motivations are supposed to follow a specific structure. Hence, you should format your scholarship motivation letter with an introduction, body, and conclusion.

Introduction: In your introductory paragraph, you should:

Start by identifying yourself: Add your personal information and contact details in a header.
Open your letter with why you are applying for the scholarship. Introduce yourself to the reader by informing them of the program you have been admitted to and how it relates to the scholarship.

Body of the letter: Here you have to establish that you are the right candidate for the scholarship. In your body paragraphs, you should write about:

Your relevant work experience. Don’t make your motivation letter simply a copy of your CV. Thus, describe specific situations and give examples that show your overall potential.
Your educational background. Highlight any academic achievements related to the scholarship you are applying to. Also, describe challenges and achievements that showcase your dedication and best qualities.
You can also strengthen your motivation letter by proposing a concrete action plan for what you will do if granted the scholarship.

Conclusion: For your conclusion, you can:

End your motivation letter by summarising the main points from your essay and reaffirming the idea that you are the right candidate for the scholarship.
Show gratitude to the institution and selection board before signing off.

You can also check out the Top 115 US Scholarships for International Students

How to Write a Motivation Letter for a Scholarship

Time Needed : 2 hours 0 minutes

Writing a stellar motivation letter takes time, it’ll often require thorough writing, review, and editing. To write a motivation letter that properly convinces your audience of your passion and drive for a scholarship program, here are the steps you should take:

Research Scholarships

Before you start thinking about what you’re going to write, research the institution offering the scholarship, its values, goals, and what it looks for in candidates. This will guide your essay, connect your experiences, and make sure every sentence you write demonstrates that you are an ideal candidate for the institution.
Outline your information

Once you know what’s expected of you, craft an outline of the information you would like to include in the letter. Typically, your outline serves as the foundation for your letter, giving you the space to organize your information to craft a masterpiece that best showcases your achievements. Thus, your outline should include the relevant experiences, qualifications, skills, and unique qualities that match the institutions and scholarships that you want to apply for. Remember, your motivation letter aims to convince your recipient of your value, so use compelling facts to make it persuasive.
Write your letter

After outlining your information, the next step is to write your scholarship motivation letter. Generally, the information in your letter should follow what you established in your outline, with summaries of your experiences and relevant connections to the values you share with the institution you are applying to. Additionally, your writing should be fluent, concise, and easy to read with short, and active sentences. This contributes to an easier reading experience while also making sure the actual content of your letter is clear.
Conclude your letter

Generally, the conclusion always comes after writing your letter. Hence, your conclusion should summarize your goal and leave a positive final impression. Likewise, you should thank your recipient for considering your application and encourage them to contact you if they have any questions.
Proofread your letter

This is where you get to scan for any inconsistencies, fluency, spelling, or grammatical errors. To get the best result, write your letter earlier than the submission period, and leave it for a few days before you proofread. Then, your mind might have decluttered, refreshed, and opened to easily spot errors, inconsistencies, and poorly structured sentences that you can remove for clarity. Also, to ensure your letter has professional grammar and spelling, you can use online software like Grammarly to scan for errors and inconsistencies. Likewise, you can ask a trusted friend or family member to proofread your motivation letter after you.

Tools

Laptop or mobile phone

Materials

Online Application

What NOT to Include When Writing a Scholarship Motivation Letter

You have to ensure you carefully write your scholarship motivation letter with no grammar or spelling errors. Hence, use a professional tone and advanced phrasing to avoid using any slang. Ensure to provide specific examples about your past, present, and future. Stay away from vague generalizations. Vagueness shows a lack of care or knowledge of what you are writing. Neither of these are impressive to a scholarship review committee.

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How to Revise Your Motivation Letter

Generally, you can never be too careful when writing a motivation letter. Also, your first draft is just the beginning of the journey so, don’t assume your essay will come out perfect after your first draft. Therefore, you need to spend as much time reviewing your essay as you spent writing it. Ideally, you would start writing it at least a few months or weeks before the deadline.

After you’ve written your first draft, take a break by leaving it for a few days or even weeks. This will provide a mental break, allowing you to approach the editing process with a clearer perspective. Similarly, this distance will help you identify areas for improvement, catch errors, and refine your ideas more effectively than if you were to edit immediately after writing.

Moreover, ensure to keep on editing while you come back to your letter regularly. Your draft will gradually take on its final form, and within a couple of weeks, it will be much better than the first version. Additionally, you can ask your friends or family to review your essay and share their thoughts. In addition, if you’re close with a professor, you can ask them to review it and give you feedback. They will help you catch any grammar errors and give you fresh ideas for improving your essay.

Tips for Writing a Motivation Letter for Scholarship

A well-crafted motivation letter can significantly impact your chances of securing a scholarship. So, here are a few tips to consider when preparing a motivation letter for scholarship:

Ensure your letter is clear and concise, avoiding overly complex language or sentences.
Write in a natural voice that reflects how you would speak to your recipient if they were in a room with you. So, write the way you speak such that your voice can be heard from your writeup.
Clearly articulate your academic and career goals by providing specific details about your aspirations and how the scholarship will contribute to them.
Showcase your extracurricular activities, leadership skills, and any relevant experiences that make you a well-rounded candidate.
Avoid clichés and generic phrases, instead, use concrete examples and experiences to illustrate your points.
Meticulously proofread your letter to eliminate grammar and spelling errors.
Avoid verbatim copying of templates, instead, personalize your letter to reflect your unique qualities and experiences.
Adhere to any formatting, length, and content guidelines or instructions provided by the scholarship committee.

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Motivation Letter for Scholarship Samples

Our group of professionals at Scholarafrika.com has compiled a list of motivation letters for scholarship samples from the world’s top university websites. We hope this list will help and properly guide you in writing an effective and winning motivation letter for a scholarship.

Sample

February 21, 2020

Ms. Liza Wideman Recruiting Coordinator

 What’s your take on this? I urge you to use this same opportunity to share this information with others using Facebook, or Twitter buttons you see.

Great Strategy Consulting Firm

200 Shell Fish Blvd, Suite 199

San Francisco, CA 94080

Dear Ms. Peterson,

I am eager to express my interest in the Associate position at Great Strategy Consulting Firm. Currently pursuing a Master of Liberal Arts degree in Information Technology at Harvard Extension School, I bring a robust technical background complemented by a passion for business and a keen interest in strategy.

My academic journey has consistently demonstrated my commitment, maintaining a 3.95 GPA in a well-rounded program that blends analytical and technical proficiency with the development of leadership and teamwork skills. I am particularly drawn to Great Strategy’s innovative approach to strategy consulting, especially in the realms of Business Development and Innovation. I believe my academic grounding, coupled with practical industry experience, positions me well to excel as an Associate.

Before my time at Harvard, I worked as a technology professional addressing strategic issues related to process improvement. This experience in Fortune 500 companies honed my research, analytical, and problem-solving abilities. My role in generating inventive ideas and strategies for process enhancement has deepened my understanding of the multifaceted challenges companies face in their day-to-day operations. Additionally, my professional background underscores the significance of effective team dynamics in today’s diverse business landscape.

While my experience in IT has been fulfilling, I am now eager to channel my analytical and creative problem-solving skills into the field of strategy consulting. I see consulting as a discipline that will challenge me to view problems not just through the client’s lens but also from the marketplace, best practices, and “out of the box” perspectives.

I would be grateful for the opportunity to interview with Great Strategy Consulting Firm for the Associate position. Enclosed is my resume for your review, and I can be reached via email at xander.okpara@post.harvard.edu or by phone at (617) 555-3456. I look forward to the possibility of connecting soon.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Xander E. Okpara

Frequently Asked Questions About How to Write a Motivation Letter for a Scholarship

How do I start a motivation letter for a scholarship?

You can begin your scholarship motivation letter with a strong and engaging introduction. Start by introducing yourself by adding your personal information and contact details in a header as well as explaining why you are applying for the scholarship.

How many words should a motivation letter for a scholarship be?

Your application letter should be concise, appealing, and impactful within the range of 500 to 8000 words.

How do you end a motivational letter?

In concluding your scholarship motivational letter, express gratitude for the opportunity, restate your enthusiasm, and convey confidence in your ability to contribute. End with a polite closing, such as “Sincerely” or “Best regards,” followed by your name.

Conclusion

Finally, keep in mind that a motivation letter is it’s about demonstrating your goals and unique qualities and not just about showcasing academic proficiency. Moreover, it is an opportunity to win the heart of the scholarship panel and improve your odds of receiving any scholarship award. So, if the scholarship you’re applying for demands a motivation letter, we hope this post has given you a head start on how you can craft a beautiful and compelling motivation letter for your scholarship.

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References

Mastersportal.com – How to Write a Motivation Letter for a Scholarship
Indeed.com – Tips for writing a motivational later
reachingdigital.com – What are the benefits of a motivational later

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